Monday, June 18, 2012

Stockholm Syndrome: Not What You Think

 

Gary DSC_1168 (640x424)

Societal Stockholm Syndrome may also explain Psychologist Dee Graham has theorized that Stockholm Syndrome occurs on a societal level.

Stockholm Sweden seems to be advancing toward mobile health applications and utilization well ahead of the U.S.

Stockholm uses city-wide mobile phone system to document elderly care

For nearly 2,000 care workers in Stockholm, a smart phone has become the most important tool in their daily operations. The goal is to make life easier for care workers and care providers and to give relatives access to various eServices that are provided via the city's website. City officials presented the solution in a World of Health IT session during the pan-European eHealth Week 2012 in Denmark.

“The idea to use a mobile documentation solution for both public and private providers of care for the elderly was mooted years ago,” said Stefan Carlson, Head of Technical Development and Administration at the city of Stockholm's IT department.

Carlson and Lindquist said that mobile documentation in elderly care has been "a big success".
"We are now planning to offer this (solution) in medical care as well. And we are planning to add new features like the eKey, a solution that uses the mobile phone as an electronic key to open the doors of homecare customers' homes without having to carry a key chain all the time", Carlson said.

An agreement was reached with Finnish IT-provider Tieto in 2007 to provide a Stockholm-wide mobile communication service. With all relevant information being digitized right away, the City of Stockholm can offer eServices to the elderly or their relatives. The care documentation can be accessed via a secure web connection, so that relatives, for example, can see exactly what care was provided and when.

Unnecessary driving is reduced. Every care worker can access the day's schedule immediately, without having to drive to the office first.

Expansion to medical care on the horizon

Carlson and Lindquist said that mobile documentation in elderly care has been "a big success".
"We are now planning to offer this (solution) in medical care as well. And we are planning to add new features like the eKey, a solution that uses the mobile phone as an electronic key to open the doors of homecare customers' homes without having to carry a key chain all the time", Carlson said.

Homecare services for the elderly in the city of Stockholm are provided by around 5,000 care workers who are employed by either one of 30 public care units or by one of the around 100 private care providers.

Together, the public and the private sector share responsibility for around 30,000 elderly customers who are visited on a daily basis by the homecare service. 

Health Train Express commented that smartphones and even public video conferencing assets such as google hangouts, Skype could be use to enhance home care visits, and post operative follow up.

 

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